Monica and Rocko
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

It's been a while since we heard from singer Monica. After a platinum-spiked career in the 1990s with hits like "Angel of Mine," "Don't Take It Personal" and her duet with Brandy on "The Boy Is Mine," the 29-year-old singer has struggled to regain momentum after a series of setbacks that included the 2000 suicide of her boyfriend, Jarvis "Knot" Weems, and the reported clashes with her label over her 2006 comeback attempt, The Makings of Me.

According to a Vibe magazine profile, though, 2000 was also the same summer the Grammy-winning singer reconnected with her former boyfriend and current fiancé, rapper Rodney "Rocko" Hill Jr., the father of her two sons, Rodney III and Romello, and the co-star of her new BET reality series. The show, "Still Standing," debuted on Tuesday night after the BET Hip-Hop Awards. It chronicles her latest comeback attempt while recording her fifth album and dealing with domestic issues alongside Rocko.

Rocko dropped his debut, Self-Made, in 2008, featuring the top 10 rap hit "Umma Do Me," after years of honing his skills writing, producing and developing songs for artists including Sammy Sam ("Step Daddy"), Young Dro, Dem Franchize Boyz, Lil Flip and Pastor Troy through his Rocky Road production shingle.

The Atlanta-based rapper told MTV News on Wednesday (October 28) that he's finishing up work on his second full-length album,One of One, which he's targeting for a February release. Among the producers on the set are Cool and Dre, the Runners, DJ Toomp and the Justice League, though Rocko said he's also hoping to get a song from Kanye West ... if he can get him on the phone.

Though Rocko said he's not planning on having a lot of rap features on the disc, among the guest MCs who've contributed so far are Jadakiss and Gucci Mane, who was rolling in the car with the rapper when he called MTV from Atlanta. "I'm not all the way done with it, but I'm not doing as many rap features, but there will be some R&B ones, like Lloyd, Trey Songz and Monica, of course," he said. "I'm also working on a movie called 'One of One.' It's my life and me breaking out — what I mean when I say they broke the mold when they made me. There's no one in this entire galaxy like me."

The 35-millimeter film, which Rocko is co-directing and funding through his Rocky Roll Films, is slated to feature cameos from Gucci and Shawty Lo and will be released separately from the album. The rapper also has two mixtapes ready to drop, Finesse, which should hit within the next few weeks, and another in January.

As for his cameos on Monica's show, Rocko said he agreed to participate not for his own career, but for hers. "It's a really good thing," he said of the show. "For the most part I'm just there to support her in her whole movement."

• Monica
• Rocko

Omarion, Keri Hilson and Chris Brown
Photo: Greg Tidwell/Pacific Coast News

Just one week before he's officially sentenced following the plea deal he struck in the Rihanna case, Chris Brown appeared at ease as he joined Keri Hilson in Los Angeles on the set of what is apparently Hilson's next video, "Slow Down."

The pair were joined by plenty of musical company: Omarion, Monica, Polow Da Don and Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton were all also on set.

	Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

At press time, it was unclear what will the premise of the video will be. Chris Robinson is apparently helming the clip — the director spoke with Rap-Up.com earlier this week and confirmed he was in town to collaborate with Hilson. The director previously worked on Hilson's most recent video, for "Knock You Down."

Representatives for Brown and Hilson were not available at press time to confirm details about the video.

Brown was clad in Billionaire's Boys Club garb on set and once again sported his "Ooops" chain. The singer drew the attention of bloggers and fans alike when he wore the same pendant during Diddy and Ashton Kutcher's white party in Los Angeles over the 4th of July weekend. After Brown agreed to a plea deal following his February altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna, he apologized to the public in a YouTube broadcast.

Images from the set have popped up online, but they appear to have been taken during breaks or after production of the shoot.

Brown is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on August 27 to be formerly sentenced to community labor service, therapy sessions, and probation.

• Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

• Chris Brown
• Keri Hilson
• Omarion
• Monica
• Polow Da Don

Evanescence's <i>The Open Door</i>
Photo: Wind-up

Was three years just a little too long?

That was the question on the minds of several industry insiders last week when Evanescence released The Open Door, the follow-up to their 2003 breakout Fallen — an album that, to date, has sold close to 6.6 million copies in the U.S. alone. With artists like the Killers, Beck and Monica all releasing new discs on the same day that The Open Door landed in stores, some wondered whether Amy Lee's goth-rock outfit still had a strong enough fanbase to open up on top.

But the fans were there to clear a path for The Open Door to become the band's first chart-topping debut. With first-week sales of 447,000 plus, the #1 position on the Billboard albums chart was a lock for Evanescence, who outsold second-place finishers the Killers by more than 133,000 copies. The Open Door stacks up as the band's biggest debut, as Fallen opened at #7 with 142,000 copies sold, while 2004's live effort Anywhere But Home bowed at #39 with 54,000 scans.

The Killers second studio offering, Sam's Town, sold nearly 315,000 copies its first week out, securing the disc the chart's #2 slot. The Las Vegas rockers' debut LP, 2004's Hot Fuss, bowed at #59 with sales of 23,000; Fuss has since sold more than 3 million units.

The chart's #3 spot belongs to George Strait, whose It Just Comes Natural racked up more than 232,000 sales. Tony Bennett's Duets: An American Classic slides one spot to #4, with second-week sales reported at 128,000 and then some. Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/ Love Sounds holds #5, racking up another 116,000 scans its fourth week in stores, while Billboard's previous #1 — Ludacris' Release Therapy — drops to #6 its second week out thanks to a 64 percent sales dip.

Beck's The Information opens at #7 with 99,000 scans. That puts the rocker's latest disc behind Guero — the 2005 release that opened at #2 with 162,000 sales — but ahead of 2002's Sea Change, which bowed at #8 with 90,000 copies sold. Monica's The Makings of Me takes the #8 spot, generating 93,000 in first-week sales. Janet Jackson's 20 Y.O. slips seven spots to #9, selling 77,000 units — a 74 percent drop in sales — while Hinder's Extreme Behavior rounds out the top 10 with 76,000 copies sold.

A total of 31 newcomers make the Billboard 200, with 13 cracking the chart's top 50. Shine On, Jet's follow-up to 2003's Get Born, opens at #16 with 51,000 copies sold. Ray Sings, Basie Swings, a mashup pairing vintage Ray Charles with the contemporary Count Basie Orchestra, debuts at #23 with 36,000 sales. The Decemberists' The Crane Wife opens at #35 with more than 26,000 scans, Robin Thicke's The Evolution of Robin Thicke follows at #45 with 20,000 copies sold and South Park Mexican open at #46 with When Devils Strike moving nearly 20,000 units.

Outkast associate Sleepy Brown debuts at #53 after selling 18,000 copies of his Mr. Brown. Pillar's The Reckoning bows at #70 with 14,000 sales, and Amos Lee's Supply and Demand takes the chart's #76 opening with 13,200 scans. Lindsey Buckingham's Under the Skin, finishes its first week with 13,000 sales for a #80 debut. Gladys Knight's Before Me opens at #93 with 11,000 copies sold. Pepper's No Shame follows at #96 with nearly 11,000 sales, while former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio's Bar 17 bows at #102 with more than 10,000 scans.

Unk's Beat'n Down Yo Block! sold nearly 10,000 copies, which earns him the #109 spot, while the Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America claims #124 with more than 8,000 copies scanned. Sean Lennon's latest, Friendly Fire, surfaces at #152 with 7,000 sales, followed at #158 by He Is Legend's Suck Out the Poison which racked up 6,000 first-week scans.

• Evanescence
• The Killers
• Beck
• Monica
• Jet

The Killers' <I>Sam's Town</I>
Photo: Island

Sam's Sons: The Killers choked four singles out of their debut, Hot Fuss, which went on to become the longest-running rock album on the Billboard top 50 in 2005 — even though it was released in June 2004. Producers Flood and Alan Moulder are together again for the first time since they worked on Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and with some amusing cowboy imagery à la Muse, the Las Vegas posse is hoping to mine more gold in Sam's Town. Songs include: "Bling (Confession of a King)," "Why Do I Keep Counting?" and "This River Is Wild."

Beck's Back: He's already put out more videos for his new album than some bands put out in their entire careers, but now it's time for Beck to finally deliver The Information. A bonus DVD that comes with copies of the Nigel Godrich-produced disc features all those videos — 15 in total, one for each track — plus stickers to help you build your own album cover. Songs include: "Strange Apparition," "1000BPM" and "Horrible Fanfare/ Landslide/ Exoskeleton."

Girl's Next Door: Amy Lee has some pretty big shoes to fill — her own. Having sold more than 14 million copies worldwide of their debut, Fallen, Evanescence are probably feeling the "Weight of the World," as one of their new songs puts it. You've probably already heard "Call Me When You're Sober," the first single from The Open Door, but keep an ear out for a string section on "Good Enough" — and don't expect a Nirvana cover on Evanescence's similarly titled "Lithium."

Take Off: There's myriad import versions of Jet's Shine On flying around out there. The version issued in their Australia homeland has five extra cuts — including two that appear, oddly enough, at the beginning of the track list. Japanese editions come with a different bonus cut, "Hold On," while most territories also have a limited digipak run, which you should be able to identify by the shrink-wrap.

Don't Sleep: He's cropped up on some major Outkast hits over the years ("The Way You Move," "So Fresh, So Clean"), but it's finally time for Sleepy Brown to rouse the masses with his solo debut. Mr. Brown comes through Big Boi's Purple Ribbon imprint and features a guest spot from the 'Kast member on "Margarita," which Pharrell also supports. Outkast proper appear on the last track, "I Can't Wait," while other songs include "Me, My Baby & My Cadillac," "One of Dem Nights" and "Till (Your Legs Start Shaking)."

Indie-Rock Till You Drop: This is another packed Tuesday for new releases — and one of the most rock-heavy ones in months — but it could also prove to be a watershed week for underground acts on the verge, so to speak. Here are the top 10 indie-rock releases to look for:

• The Decemberists' The Crane Wife: Probably the most established indie-rock band putting out new material this week, this Portland, Oregon, troupe is actually doing so on a major label: Capitol. Based on a Japanese children's folk tale, the conceptual LP — co-produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla — actually delves into dark tales of murder on songs like "You'll Not Feel the Drowning."
• Various artists' The DFA Remixes: Chapter Two: While various artists are indeed represented here — Nine Inch Nails, N.E.R.D., Hot Chip, Goldfrapp — the emphasis is clearly on the two-man combo that is Death From Above. Many of these mixes by the heralded underground duo are seeing commercial release for the first time.
• The Kooks' Inside In/ Inside Out: These Brighton, England, lads have already put out five singles in the U.K., before even issuing their maiden release in the U.S. This LP has already gone double-platinum in the Kooks' homeland, and they've sold out four headlining tours. As Stan Lee would say, 'nuff said.
• The Dears' Gang of Losers: Scrolling over to yet another part of the globe, these Montreal musicians actually put three tracks not available on the Canadian version of their LP on the U.S. edition. The band — which openly cites Serge Gainsbourg as a major influence — has shed most of the orchestral elements from 2004's No Cities Left in favor of more basically structured songs, which include "Sinthtro," "Ballad of Humankindness" and "There Goes My Outfit."
• Ad Astra Per Aspera's Catapult Calypso: The Lawrence, Kansas, post-punks actually infuse their songs with some Latin and roots sounds on their full-length debut, which features "Scatter Baby Spiders," "The Romantic One" and the epic closer "Flannery's Coming Home." Plus it boasts one of the most colorful album covers hitting stores this week.
• Cities' Variations: AAPA have some competition on the post-punk front in this Chapel Hill, North Carolina, gang, which is putting out a remix disc only months after issuing its debut. Ladytron put an electro touch on "Writing on the Wall," while lesser-known acts like Free the Robots and Daedelus also do some retooling. A second remix of "A Theme" was contributed by Mike Westbrook, who got a spot on the disc after winning a contest on the Yep Roc Records Web site.
• Thunderbirds Are Now!'s Make History: Detroit may have had some bad news over the weekend, what with its Tigers having lost their grip on the AL Central division title, but hopefully the city will find some recompense in the latest opus from these spazz-outs. That it was produced by Enon's John Schmersal and mixed by Les Savy Fav's Syd Butler should give you an idea of what to expect: 11 tracks of odd fits and starts, burps and farts.
• The Meeting Places' Numbered Days: Recorded in conjunction with the Ship — an Elephant 6-like group of Los Angelinos that includes Earlimart — the band's second album was captured by Grandaddy's Jim Fairchild. Blending piano and glockenspiel with kraut sounds and noise-pop, Numbered Days includes "Cardboard Robot," "Love Like the Movies" and "Mumble."
• Planes Mistaken for Stars' Mercy: Hop over to Denver for a louder dose of rock on songs like "Killed by Killers Who Kill Each Other," "Little Death" and "To Spit a Sparrow." Produced by Matt Bayles of Mastodon and Isis note, the CD is also adorned with glorious artwork by Pig Destroyer collaborator Chris Taylor.
• The Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America: No, proceeds from this disc do not go toward the Boys & Girls Club — the title is actually a line from Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" — but don't let that stop you from picking up these 11 passels of spunky rock. This CD actually serves as the masthead for BoysandGirlsinAmerica.com, an online community through which the band is encouraging fans to submit video about "Your first date to your worst date, your party fouls and your massive nights."

Song Title of the Week:

"Melody With Balls" from Warpig's Warpig

Other Notables:

Pepper's No Shame: With their single "Your Face" figuratively blowing up at radio, the Los Angeles-via-Hawaii band is ready for its frenzied fanbase to spice up the mainstream. Recent tours with 311 and the Wailers surely planted some seeds of interest among reggae-rock aficionados, but in case that didn't do the trick, Nick Hexum produced the effort, while No Doubt's Tony Kanal lends some bass parts.

Sean Lennon's Friendly Fire: Boasting contributions from such random guests as Jon Brion, Bijou Phillips and Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda, perhaps the only thing stranger about this set is the motley crew that appears on the companion DVD's short film: Carrie Fisher, Asia Argento and Lindsay Lohan. Lennon covers Marc Bolan and conjures images of "Dead Meat" on his first album in eight years, but plays fewer instruments than he did on his solo debut, Into the Sun.

Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3's Olé! Tarantula: Hitch recruited one-half of R.E.M. — Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey — for what he's calling the "rockingest record I've made in years." Kurt Bloch of the Fastbacks acts as engineer, while many other guests are also along for the ride: Soft Boys Morris Windsor and Kimberly Rew, plus members of Harvey Danger and Presidents of the United States of America. Those who preordered were gifted with a bonus disc with live tracks and more.

New Releases:

• Ad Astra Per Aspera - Catapult Calypso (Sonic Unyon)
  
• Oleta Adams - Christmas Time With Oleta (Koch)
  
• Akron/ Family - Meek Warrior (Young God)
  
• Akwid - E.S.L. (UniVision)
  
• Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side (two CDs; Metal Blade)
  Buy Now: With Oden on Our Side (Metal Blade)
  
• Trey Anastasio - Bar 17 (Red Ink)
  Buy Now: Bar 17 (Red Ink)
  
• Badi Assad - Wonderland (Deutsche Grammophon)
  
• Beck - The Information (Geffen)
  Read: "Beck Giving Fans Sticky Fingers With Quasi-Hip-Hop Album"
  Buy Now: The Information (Geffen)
  
• Big Rich - E-40 Presents Big Rich A.K.A. Fillmore Rich: Block Tested, Hood Approved (Koch)
  
• Bleu Da Vinci - Bleu Da Vinci Presents: The World Is BMF's - The Compilation (with DVD; Koch)
  
• Brand New Sin - Tequila (Century Media)
  Buy Now: Tequila (Century Media)
  
• Brazil - The Philosophy of Velocity (Immortal)
  
• Breaks Co-Op - The Sound Inside (Astralwerks)
  
• Jim Brickman - Escape (SLG)
  
• Lindsey Buckingham - Under the Skin (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: Under the Skin (Warner Bros.)
  
• Don Byron - Do the Boomerang: The Music of Junior Walker (Blue Note)
  
• Edie Carey - Another Kind of Fire (Accidental Poet)
  
• Celtic Woman - A Christmas Celebration (Manhattan)
  
• Chthonic - Seediqbale (Down Port)
  
• Cirque Du Soleil - Corteo (Cirque Du Soleil)
  
• Cities - Variations (EP; Yep Roc)
  
• Clark - Body Riddle (Warp)
  
• Dears - Gang of Losers (Arts & Crafts)
  Buy Now: Gang of Losers (Arts & Crafts)
  
• Decemberists - The Crane Wife (Capitol)
  Buy Now: The Crane Wife (Capitol)
  
• Delerium - Nuages Du Monde (Nettwerk)
  
• Plácido Domingo - Moments of Passion (Sony Classical)
  Buy Now: Moments of Passion (Sony Classical)
  
• Don't Die Cindy - Most Imperfect Skies (Cake)
  
• Richard Dorfmeister vs. Madrid de los Austrias - Grand Slam (G-Stone)
  
• Evanescence - The Open Door (Wind-Up)
  Read: "Amy Lee Says New Evanescence LP Has More Sensuality"
  Buy Now: The Open Door (Wind-Up)
  
• Michael Giacchino - "Lost: Season 2" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• Goldenboy - Underneath the Radio (Eenie Meenie)
  
• David Grover & the Big Bear Band With Steve Ide & Friends - Passin' It On (Koch)
  
• Stefon Harris - African Tarantella: Dances With Duke (Blue Note)
  
• Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - Olé! Tarantula (Yep Roc)
  
• The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America (Vagrant)
  Buy Now: Boys and Girls in America (Vagrant)
  
• Into Eternity - The Scattering of Ashes (Century Media)
  Buy Now: The Scattering of Ashes (Century Media)
  
• Jeremiah - Chasing Forever (Siri)
  
• Jet - Shine On (Atlantic)
  Read: "Jet Reveal Commanding Track List For Shine On LP"
  Buy Now: Shine On (Atlantic)
  
• Jonezetta - Popularity (Tooth & Nail)
  
• K-Ci - My Book (Bungalo)
  
• Kennedys - Songs of the Open Road (Appleseed)
  
• Killers - Sam's Town (Island)
  Read: "Killers Album Preview: Massive Sound, Epic Ballads, Big Ideas Fill Sam's Town"
  Buy Now: Sam's Town (Island)
  
• King Britt's Interpretations - Nova Dream Sequence (Compost)
  
• Gladys Knight - Before Me (Verve)
  
• Kooks - Inside In/ Inside Out (Astralwerks)
  Buy Now: Inside In/ Inside Out (Astralwerks)
  
• Koop - Koop Islands (!K7)
  
• Jake La Botz - Graveyard Jones (Charnel Ground)
  
• Amos Lee - Supply and Demand (Blue Note)
  
• Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire (with DVD; Capitol)
  Buy Now: Friendly Fire (Capitol)
  
• Les Georges Leningrad - Sangue Puro (Tomlab)
  
• Los Straitjackets With the World Famous Pontani Sisters and Kaiser George - Twist Party!!! (Yep Roc)
  
• Make Believe - Of Course (Flameshovel)
  
• The Manhattan Transfer - An Acapella Christmas and The Symphony Sessions (Rhino)
  Buy Now: An Acapella Christmas and The Symphony Sessions (Rhino)
  
• Meeting Places - Numbered Days (Words On)
  
• Monica - The Makings of Me (J)
  Read: "Monica Overcomes Pregnancy Rumors, Ex-Boyfriend's Suicide To Form Makings Of Me"
  Buy Now: The Makings of Me (J)
  
• Nina Nastasia - On Leaving (Fat Cat)
  
• Nuttin' but Stringz - Struggle From the Subway to the Charts (Koch)
  
• Lisa Palleschi - Released (Lightyear)
  
• John Patitucci - Line by Line (Concord)
  
• Pepper - No Shame (Atlantic)
  
• Pillar - The Reckoning (Flicker)
  
• Planes Mistaken for Stars - Mercy (Abacus)
  
• John Popper - The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic (Image)
  Buy Now: The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic (Image)
  
• The Radiators - Dreaming Out Loud (Sci Fidelity)
  Buy Now: Dreaming Out Loud (Sci Fidelity)
  
• The Receiver - Decades (Stunnin Models on Display)
  
• Reyes Brothers - Ghetto Therapy (Latin Thug/ Koch)
  
• Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela (ATO)
  
• Sharam - Dubai (Global Underground)
  
• Skillet - Comatose (Atlantic)
  
• Slats - Boom Patrol (digipak; Latest Flame)
  
• Sleepy Brown - Mr. Brown (Virgin)
  Buy Now: Mr. Brown (Virgin)
  
• Some Action - The Band That Sucked the Life Out of Rock N' Roll and Killed Itself in the Process (Gigantic)
  
• Spitalfield - Better Than Knowing Where You Are (Victory)
  Buy Now: Better Than Knowing Where You Are (Victory)
  
• George Strait - It Just Comes Natural (MCA Nashville)
  Buy Now: It Just Comes Natural (MCA Nashville)
  
• Subtle - For Hero for Fool (Astralwerks)
  
• Robin Thicke - The Evolution of Robin Thicke (Interscope)
  Buy Now: The Evolution of Robin Thicke (Interscope)
  
• Thunderbirds Are Now! - Make History (French Kiss)
  
• Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson in Crime (Paper Bag)
  
• Transit War - Miss Your Face (Orange Peal)
  
• Trentalange - Photo Album of Complex Relationships (Coco Tauro)
  
• Twelve Tribes - Midwest Pandemic (Ferret)
  
• Unk - Beat'n Down Yo Block! (Koch)
  
• Visionaries - We Are the Ones (We've Been Waiting For) (Up Above)
  
• Warpig - Warpig (Relapse)
  
• Wolf - The Black Flame (Prosthetic)
  
• Michael Wolff - Love and Destruction (Wrong)
  
• Chris Young - Chris Young (RCA)
  Buy Now: Chris Young (RCA)
  
• Various artists - Adult Swim and Stones Throw Presents Chrome Children (with DVD; Stones Throw)
  
• Various artists - The DFA Remixes: Chapter Two (Astralwerks)
  
• Various artists - Fabric 30 - Rub-N-Tug (Fabric)
  
• Various artists - Rep Yo Set (Reputable)
  
• Various artists - Totally Hits 2006 (Warner Strategic Marketing)
  
• Various artists - We'll Inherit the Earth ... A Tribute to the Replacements (1234 Go)
  
• Various artists - "The Break-Up" soundtrack (Lakeshore)
  
• Various artists - "Sherrybaby" soundtrack (Lakeshore)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Tim Buckley - The Best of Tim Buckley (Rhino)
  
• Captain Beefheart - Doc at the Radar Station and Ice Cream for Crow (Astralwerks)
  
• Ray Charles - Ray Charles With the Voices of Jubilation (Medialink) and Ray Sings, Basie Swings (Concord)
  
• Chicago - 16 and 17 (Rhino)
  
• Darkest Hour - Archives (A-F)
  
• Desmond Dekker - This Is Desmond Dekker (Trojan)
  
• Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame, Some Great Reward and Songs of Faith and Devotion (two-CD deluxe editions; Rhino)
  Buy Now: A Broken Frame, Some Great Reward and Songs of Faith and Devotion (Rhino)
  
• Earth, Wind & Fire - In the Name of Love (Kalimba)
  
• Gloria Estefan - The Essential Gloria Estefan (two CDs; Epic/Legacy)
  Buy Now: The Essential Gloria Estefan (Epic/Legacy)
  
• The Future Sound of London - Teachings From the Electronic Brain (The Best of FSOL) (Astralwerks)
  
• Journey - Captured, Frontiers, Raised by Radio and Trial by Fire (expanded digipaks; Columbia/Legacy)
  Buy Now: Captured, Frontiers, Raised by Radio and Trial by Fire (Columbia/Legacy)
  
• John Kay & Steppenwolf - Live in London (Rainman)
  
• Chris LeDoux - The Ultimate Collection (two CDs; Capitol)
  
• Steve Perry - For the Love of Strange Medicine, Greatest Hits and Street Talk (expanded digipaks; Columbia/Legacy)
  
• Pet Shop Boys - PopArt (two CDs; Capitol)
  Buy Now: Pop Art (Capitol)
  
• Pink Floyd - Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd (two-CD special edition; Capitol)
  
• Elvis Presley - Elvis Christmas (RCA/BMG)
  
• Pretenders - Pretenders and Pretenders II (two-disc sets; Rhino)
  Buy Now: Pretenders and Pretenders II (Rhino)
  
• Boz Scaggs - Hits! (Columbia/Legacy)
  
• Sons of the Pioneers/ Roy Rodgers - The Republic Years (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Pete Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition (special edition with DVD; Columbia)
  Buy Now: We Shall Overcome: The Pete Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition (Columbia)
  
• Dakota Staton - Dynamic! (Blue Note)
  
• UT - In Gut's House and Griller (Blast First/ Mute)
  
• Joe Williams - A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry (Blue Note)
  
• George Winston - Ballads and Blues 1972 - The Early Recordings: Special Edition (expanded digipak) and Complete Solo Piano Recordings: 1972-2004 (10-CD box set; Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Various artists - Nick Jr Winter Wonderland (Nick)
  
• Various artists - Paint It Black (Virgin)
  
• Various artists - What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1977) (four-CD box set; Rhino)
  
• Various artists - Windham Hill Holiday Guitar Collection (Windham Hill/ Legacy)

Music DVDs:

• Phil Collins - "Classic Albums: Face Value" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Elvis Costello & the Imposters - "Club Date: Live in Memphis" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Robert Earl Keen - "Live at the Ryman: The Greatest Show Ever Been Gave" (Koch)
  
• John Lennon and Yoko Ono - "Give Peace a Song" (Hip-O)
  
• Level 42 - "Live at Wembley" (Koch)
  
• Bob Marley and the Wailers - "Classic Albums: Catch a Fire" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Meat Loaf - "Classic Albums: Bat Out of Hell" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Pat Metheny Group - "The Way Up - Live" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Moe - "Live From the Fillmore" (Fat Boy)
  
• Pixies - "Live at the Paradise in Boston" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Pretty Ricky - "Live Concert: Live From the 305 (Volume 1)" (Atlantic)
  
• Steely Dan - "Classic Albums: Aja" (Eagle Vision)
  
• STS9 - "Live as Time Changes" (Sci Fidelity)
  
• James Taylor - "A MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute" (Rhino)
  
• U2 - "Classic Albums: The Joshua Tree" (Eagle Vision)
  
• The Who - "Classic Albums: Who's Next" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Various artists - "Moments to Remember: The Golden Hits of the 50s and 60s" (Shout! Factory)

Coming Attractions:

October 10:

• The Blood Brothers - Young Machetes (V2)
  Preorder: Young Machetes (V2)
  
• Teddy Geiger - Underage Thinking (special-edition re-release with demo bonus tracks; Columbia)
  Read: "Teddy Geiger Milks 'Fat Cows' For Underage Re-Release"
  Preorder: Underage Thinking (Columbia)
  
• Various artists - "American Hardcore - The History of American Punk Rock (1980-1986)" soundtrack (Rhino)
  Read: "Think You Know Punk Rock? Hardcore Vets Recall Real Blood-And-Sweat Years"

October 17:

• C-Murder - The Tru Story ... Continued (limited-edition version with DVD and bonus tracks; Koch)
  Preorder: The Tru Story ... Continued (Koch)
  
• Glenn Danzig - Black Aria II (Megaforce)
  Read: "Glenn Danzig Preps 'Final' Tour, Film, Box Set And, Uh, Dolls"
  Preorder: Black Aria II (Megaforce)
  
• Xzibit - Full Circle (Koch)
  Read: "Xzibit's An Indie Rapper Again, With Game And Quik In Tow"

October 24:

• My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (Reprise)
  Read: "My Chemical Romance Unveil Black Parade Track List, Album Art"
  Preorder: The Black Parade (Reprise)
  
• Sparta - Threes (Hollywood)
  Read: "Sparta Return With New LP, Outlook, Tour — And No Need For 'Hipster Points' "
  Preorder: Threes (Hollywood)
  
• Various artists - "The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack (special two-CD edition; Disney)
  Read: "Fall Out Boy, Panic, Marilyn Manson Add To New 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Soundtrack"

• The Killers
• Beck
• Evanescence
• Jet
• Sleepy Brown

Monica
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Monica named her last album After the Storm, but it seems that the clouds have just recently parted for the singer.

Recent years have seen the suicide of an ex-boyfriend, an emotional breakup, pregnancy rumors and a brief courtship with G-Unit member Young Buck. Now back with her fourth release — The Makings of Me, due October 3 — she's expressing her newfound focus and maturity.

"This album is very, very different from the other ones, because of me personally," Monica said last week during a break from the chaos of the Video Music Awards. "The first album, I was 13 years old. Now, at 26, the way I look at things, even relationships, I was really able to involve more of my life experiences in the album.

"And that made for some crazy songs," she added, laughing.

Without question, one of those is the Underdogs-produced "Sideline Ho," which Monica wrote with collaborator Tank. The scathing track finds the singer taking her man and his mistress to task for many things, including the other woman's relaxed attitude toward the whole proceedings — something a characteristically tame Monica doesn't take too kindly to.

Monica sings: "It don't matter if he spends the night, his home's somewhere else/ If you don't make his breakfast, you's a sideline ho!"

"That song has been shutting down a lot of Internet sites," Monica said. "Because I talk about when I was with someone back in the day who cheated on me in the most malicious, deceptive ways. And when I referred to the chick, I always referred to her as the 'sideline ho,' because she was too comfortable with her position."

Other songs on Makings include the Jermaine Dupri-produced ballad "Get Away," which details Monica's 10-plus years in the public eye, and "Thanks for Tha Misery," written by Sean Garrett.

But it's the Missy Elliott-helmed "Dozen Roses" — slated to be the follow-up to her current single, "Everytime Tha Beat Drop" — that Monica finds herself most attached to. She calls the track, which samples Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings of You," her personal favorite on the album.

"I think the honesty of the record is what will hopefully help people gravitate to it," she said. "I don't want to do anything contrived. I want people to know I've been through the same situations as them and that's why I share so many of my personal experiences. In the process, I've still been able to live my dreams, and I want people to see that side of it.

"I look back over the past decade of my life," she added, "and I took everything — the good and the bad — and really made a musical diary."

• Snoop, Pharrell, Ciara, Danity Kane, Luda, More Mingle At VMA Forum

• Monica

3 Doors Down's Brad Arnold (file)
Photo: Getty Images/Martin H. Simon-Pool

Say what you will about 3 Doors Down, but there's one thing for certain: they definitely know when to listen to their fans. According to their manager, the guys had originally intended for "It's Not Me" to be the second single off their Seventeen Days album, but "due to the overwhelming response of the live audiences in Los Angeles and Europe," they decided to make "Behind Those Eyes" the next single. A final video treatment is being mulled over, and the band has set aside April 11 in Los Angeles to shoot the clip. ...

In typical rock-star fashion, Korn frontman Jonathan Davis, who, with porn-star wife Deven, became proud parents last week, has named his infant son something even more bizarre than Apple. According to Davis' Web site, Pirate Howsmon Davis entered the world on Friday, and is doing just fine. "I can't describe how I'm feeling right now," Davis wrote. Pirate is the rocker's second child, and Deven's first; Davis has a 9-year-old boy named Nathan from a previous marriage. ... Pearl Jam are in the studio working on their upcoming, as-yet-untitled album, which is tentatively slated for release in the second half of the year, according to a spokesperson. ...

Tyler Perry has hooked up with Dallas Austin to put out the soundtrack to "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." The record is dropping on April 19 and will feature the likes of India.Arie, Monica, Patti LaBelle, Tamia, Heather Headley and Tamela Mann. ... Funkmaster George Clinton is in the final mixing stages of a new P-Funk All Stars album, How Late U Gotta B B4 U Absent?, according to a spokesperson, who described it as "a taste of what's to come from Parliament, Funkadelic, George Clinton and new artists Belita Woods, Kendra Foster, JOI and [Clinton's granddaughter] Sativa." The album is slated for release in June on Clinton's C KUNSPYRUHSY label. ...

Mike Patton's already long list of contributors to his Peeping Tom project has grown even more. Turntablist Kid Koala, beatboxer Rahzel, the Melvins' Dale Crover and Patton's Ipecac labelmate Dalek have all recently signed on. ... Glasgow, Scotland, whine merchants Belle & Sebastian will release a double-disc compilation album on May 24, consisting of the 25 tracks from the band's seven Jeepster EPs as well as all of its singles, according to the band's Web site. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds will feature such songs as "Dog on Wheels," "Lazy Line Painter Jane," "A Century of Elvis" and "Take Your Carriage Clock and Shove It." ...

Need to get your goth on? On the heels of the re-release of their 1979 debut, Three Imaginary Boys, the Cure will reissue their seminal early '80s discs — Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography — on April 26. The remastered two-disc sets will feature the original album, numerous rarities and a lavish booklet filled with lyrics as well as photos from Robert Smith's personal archives. ... Blues Traveler singer/harmonica player John Popper is about to launch a U.S. tour with the John Popper Project. The guitarless group features DJ Logic on the turntables, Blues Traveler bassist Chan Kinchla and Mosaic drummer Marcus Bleeker. The band has scheduled 11 dates so far, beginning with an April 14 show in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Gov't Mule and running through an April 29 date in Urbana, Illinois. ...

03.22.2005

Hilary and Haylie Duff seem to be inseparable these days — the celeb sisters are teaming up once again, this time to lend their voices to an upcoming animated film called "Foodfight!" The movie takes place in a grocery store, which comes to life after hours and features such characters as Mr. Clean, Charlie the Tuna and Twinkie the Kid dominating the action. There's no word yet on which characters the Duff sisters will play. "Foodfight!" — which will be in 3-D — is due out in the fall of 2006. ...

Audioslave's forthcoming second album now has a name: Out of Exile, which will hit record stores May 17 and feature "The Curse," "Your Time Has Come" and the current radio single, "Be Yourself." Audioslave's spring tour kicks off April 14 in Las Vegas. ... Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the White Stripes, Kid Rock and the Pixies will headline the 12th annual Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta, which takes place June 10-12. Additional artists confirmed include Loretta Lynn, Bloc Party, the Killers, Joan Jett and Coheed & Cambria. Meanwhile, native son and producer Jermaine Dupri has been recruited to curate the festival's urban stage. ...

Fat Joe is making us wait even longer for his All or Nothing LP. The record has been pushed back to May 24; his camp has blamed "sample clearance issues" for the delay. ... Kanye West will release the "Kanye West Video Anthology" on March 22. In addition to his videos, the DVD will feature retooled versions of previously released material, like the "Jesus Walks" remix with Common and Mase, as well as a couple of songs that have never hit shelves, such as "Heavy Hitters With GLC." ... "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard has been knocked down yet again with another lawsuit, this time from his own godfather. Ronald Edwards, also the singer's former manager, filed a $500,000 countersuit against the Velvet Teddy Bear on Friday, according to The Associated Press, accusing him of failing to pay management fees and other expenses. This comes on the heels of Studdard's $246,000 suit against Edwards, filed March 5, in which the singer accuses his former manager of mismanaging his money while acting as a business advisor. ...

Guitarist Vernon Reid announced on his blog that he will be a guest member of the Roots when they hit the road in June. His group, Living Colour, will be playing the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the end of April. ... Lenny Kravitz donated a signed black-and-white Epiphone Flying V guitar to help raise money for Brazil's fight against hunger, according to Reuters. He personally handed the instrument to Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a photo op before his concert in Brasilia on Saturday. The $5,000 axe will be auctioned off on a government Web site as part of the president's "Zero Hunger" program. Now that Kravitz wrapped his first tour of Latin America over the weekend, U.S. audiences will get to see him perform Stateside when his tour here kicks off on April 5 in Dallas. ...

Meat Beat Manifesto will embark on their first U.S. tour in seven years beginning June 9; a full itinerary for the 20-city trek has not yet been announced. The electronic duo's new album, At the Center, will hit stores on May 24. ... Montreal trio the Unicorns may have called it quits, but we haven't heard the last of them yet. Two of the members, singer Nicholas Diamonds and drummer J'aime Tambour, will continue on as a hip-hop outfit called Th' Corn Gangg. The duo recently made their U.S. debut at South by Southwest and an album and tour are expected later in the year. ... Prolific singer/songwriter and studio/touring musician Mindy Jostyn died March 10 after a battle with cancer. Jostyn had worked with such artists as Carly Simon, Cyndi Lauper, John Mellencamp, Joe Jackson, Shania Twain, Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Joel, according to her Web site. Her latest solo album, Coming Home, is due later this year. ...

• 3 Doors Down
• Korn
• Pearl Jam
• Monica
• Mike Patton

SANTA MONICA, California — This time the boy is not hers.

Monica, who famously sang "The Boy Is Mine" with Brandy in 1998, is eyeing the infidelity tale "Don't Gotta Go Home" as the third single from her album After the Storm.

"It talks about something that I have never actually experienced — it's about a woman who's in a relationship with a married man," Monica said at the recent Vibe Awards. "She is the mistress, as you would say. And it just tries to tell the story from her point of view."

"Don't Gotta Go Home" features DMX, who alternates lines with Monica, rapping lyrics such as, "Baby, it's like I love my wife/ But we going through things and I ain't going home tonight." Later, Monica responds, "Baby, I can treat you better than she can/ It doesn't make sense to keep on loving and keep on trusting/ When in return all you get is nothing."

"X, of course, he delivers because he is quite an energy," Monica said. "We had a good time doing it because we have one of those types of relationships that makes it easy for us to work. We have an understanding for each other, so it came out really good."

Monica will ultimately let "the people" choose the follow-up to the Missy Elliott-produced "Knock Knock" (see "'Knock Knock,' Who's There? Monica And Missy Elliott, Bringing The Heat"), but she thinks they too want to see a video for "Don't Gotta Go Home."

The singer is hoping to launch a tour in early 2004, and in the meantime has been working on another element of her career.

"I've been kind of sneaking around [Hollywood], taking some meetings and seeing what's going around," said Monica, who starred in MTV's "Love Song." "I am looking forward to doing another movie."

And if acting doesn't work out, there's another job she can perform in front of the camera: She recently hosted the American Music Awards pre-show with 'NSYNC's Lance Bass.

"I must admit I had a good time interviewing the artists because I feel like they feel more comfortable with me," she said. "They don't feel like they are being questioned, they just feel like they are talking and socializing, so it was cool."

• Monica
• DMX

Radiohead will follow Hail to the Thief's first single, "There There," with "Go to Sleep," which is expected to surface in mid-August. An animated video for the tune has already been shot. A retail single will be released in the band's native U.K. on August 18 backed with the new song "I Am Citizen Insane" and a live version of "Fog," the studio recording of which appeared on the "Knives Out" single. ...

Audioslave will release a self-titled DVD on Tuesday. The package will include scenes from the band's live debut in New York on top of the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee, the videos "Show Me How to Live," "Cochise" and "Like a Stone," and interviews with the band. ...

From "American Idol" to "American Dreams": Kelly Clarkson will play Brenda Lee and sing "Sweet Nothin's" on the second-season premiere of the NBC drama. Also lined up for the show are Alicia Keys, who will play Fontella Bass and sing "Rescue Me," and Monica, set to portray Mary Wells and perform "My Guy." Usher and Third Eye Blind, who have both appeared on the program before, will return this season. ... Meanwhile, Third Eye Blind will perform their latest single, "Crystal Baller," at halftime at the Major League Soccer All-Star Game on August 2. The game will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and will be televised on ABC. ...

Sam Phillips' Sun Studios, the legendary place where Elvis Presley recorded "That's All Right" and Carl Perkins tracked "Blue Suede Shoes," has been designated a historic landmark, the first music studio to own that distinction. A signing ceremony took place Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. Others who recorded at the Memphis studio include Roy Orbison, Howlin' Wolf and Johnny Cash. ... Now that the Who are, perhaps, a piece of history, vocalist Roger Daltrey will host the upcoming History Channel show "Extreme History With Roger Daltrey." The weekly 30-minute show will debut in October, and will feature the rock legend re-enacting the feats of cavemen, Vikings, explorers and war generals. ...

Gling-Glo, Björk's rare LP of traditional Icelandic jazz that has been available only as an import since it dropped in 1990, will finally see U.S. release on September 9. ... Prince will release his first DVD, titled "Prince Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas," later this year. Recordings from the finale of his One Night Alone 2002 Tour are among the highlights of the DVD, which also includes classic Prince tracks, covers and tour material. ...

Vegetarian Paul McCartney has joined PETA in its fight against Kentucky Fried Chicken. According to the Associated Press, the former Beatle has taken out a full-page ad in Louisville, Kentucky's Courier-Journal newspaper to challenge David Novak, chairman and CEO of KFC's Louisville-based parent company Yum! Brands Inc., to improve how chickens are raised and killed for the restaurant chain. ... With eight nominations, Shania Twain leads the pack honored by the Canadian Country Music Association. Twain is up for the Fans' Choice Award, Single of the Year for "Forever and for Always" and Album of the Year for Up!, among others. Awards will be handed out on September 8. ...

07.23.2003

Beyoncé is eyeing "Baby Boy" as the second single from Dangerously in Love, and she's just awaiting approval from guest Sean Paul's people to make it official. In related news, Michelle Williams is hoping to release her second gospel album by October. ... Justin Guarini has finally shot a video for his first single, "Sorry," due early next month. His big-screen debut, From Justin to Kelly, is due on DVD August 26, just two months after the musical flopped in theaters. ...

Ruben Studdard's success can be measured by record sales as well as by inches — 15 of them to be exact. That's how tall the Velvet Teddy Bear, a new stuffed animal created with the "American Idol" winner's nickname in mind, stands. Due September 19 and priced at $20, the doll is clothed in a multicolored cap and jersey, both emblazoned with Studdard's name. A more manageable seven-inch version costing $15 will also be available. ... To warm up for his San Francisco and London runs of "Chicago," Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson is reprising his role as tap-dancing lawyer Billy Flynn in the national touring production's Pittsburgh stop. Taking over for Gregory Harrison, Richardson will do matinee and evening performances on Saturday and Sunday at Pittsburgh Symphony Heinz Hall before continuing to San Francisco for a three-week run starting August 4. The London production dates have not yet been announced. ...

Rhino's Elvis Costello reissue campaign charges forward with another three double-disc gems on September 9. Get Happy!! (1980), Trust (1981) and Punch the Clock (1983) will include bonus tracks, studio outtakes and demos. ... Melancholic English rocker Travis will release their third album in September. The record was put on hold eight months ago when drummer Neil Primrose suffered a life-threatening neck injury while swimming. During Primrose's recovery, frontman Fran Healy wrote the majority of the songs on the disc, which was recorded with Tchad Blake in Scotland. ...

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, who has been working on a musical in Sarasota, Florida, called "Helen of Troy," has recruited Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan to help write songs. The two hooked up earlier this summer during a European tour featuring both bands and the Rolling Stones. ... Misfits bassist Jerry Only has formed a new version of the band with onetime Black Flag singer/guitarist Dez Cadena and Ramones drummer Marky Ramone for Misfits Project 1950, a covers album featuring oldies like "Monster Mash," "Runaway" and "Great Balls of Fire" with guest appearances by Ronnie Spector and Blondie's Jimmy Destri. The Misfits will kick off a U.S. tour called Fiend Fest on July 23 in Tempe, Arizona, with the Damned, the Dickies, Agnostic Front and Balzac also on the bill. ...

Da Band, the drama-bringing group from P. Diddy's "Making the Band," had a listening session for their debut LP Tuesday night at New York's Daddy House studio. The first single from the album, due in September, isn't done, but P.D. played several songs featuring all the members as well as solo joints from Sara and Chopper. ... A former accountant of the London Suede will stand trial in April for allegedly robbing the band of more than $750,000. Fran Dixon was arrested three years ago after a probe into the band's finances revealed irregularities. Dixon is also accused of stealing an additional $750,000 from Primal Scream and Echobelly. ... Speed to Kill, a band signed to Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger's 604 label, are recording their full-length debut, which follows a three-song EP. ...

The fourth album from Wellwater Conspiracy, which features original Monster Magnet guitarist John McBain and Pearl Jam/Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, is due September 9. A tour is being assembled to coincide with the release. ... Brooklyn's Radio 4 have signed to Astralwerks, which will release the Electrify EP August 26. The EP features remixed tunes from last year's Gotham! LP by the DFA and the Faint, among others. The groove rockers' third album is expected next year. ... The first robe created for psychedelic choir the Polyphonic Spree has been returned to leader Tim DeLaughter a week after it was stolen in the U.K. The robe, created by DeLaughter's mother-in-law and considered invaluable, was given back freshly laundered. ...

• Radiohead
• Kelly Clarkson
• Audioslave
• Monica
• Third Eye Blind

Eminem
Photo: WireImage

DETROIT — It was labeled a "weekend of concerts," but the turnout was more like that of a super-sized convention. About 100,000 people from all over the country proved this past weekend that despite not having a new album drop in over a year, Slim Shady truly is a modern-day hip-hop messiah.

"Eminem's God!" screamed a man from Lansing, Michigan, Saturday night. He was just one of the fans who had traveled to Detroit's Ford Field from just about everywhere imaginable to see Em perform in only the second show he's played this year. His third and last scheduled Stateside concert took place at the same venue Sunday. With the biggest rap show on earth taking on more of a rock show feel, a sea of hands stayed swaying up and down in the air with people yelling and cheering for Em and opening acts 50 Cent and Missy Elliott.

When the curtain opened to show the same carnival set Slim used on the Anger Management Tour last summer (see "Eminem King Of The Carnival At Anger Management Tour Launch"), two video screens that hung high above the right and left sides of the stage read "A few weeks ago." Pre-filmed footage of a phone conversation between the evening's star and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick then aired with his Honor calling Europe, where Em was touring. Kilpatrick asked his city's most popular figure to come play a show in Rock City.

Em obliged, but first, he said, he had business to attend to. Footage of Em going out on his balcony and imitating the Michael Jackson baby-dangling incident (see "Eminem Dangles His 'Baby' Jacko-Style, Gives Nauseated Fan His 'M' ") played, but then the screen cut off due to electrical difficulties. After five minutes of standing in the dark, fans applauded as the video finally came back up.

On the screen, Em and D12 member Proof were greeted by a liquor-swigging chauffer (it turned out to be Kid Rock), who drove them up to the stage. That's when the accordions from "Square Dance" began wheezing.

Like a small elite group of his peers, Em's live command of the mic is normally flawless. Although this show was no exception, his microphone gave him problems, and on a few songs you could barely hear Em's vocals due to feedback and other issues — not that the crowd seemed to notice. The problems didn't plague the Sunday show.

On Saturday, the livelier of the two shows, there were virtually no lulls in either screams or vigorous body movements from the fans. D12 joined the fray for several songs including "Fight Music" and "Purple Pills," where psychedelic purple and yellow lights were cast on the arena. The video screens showing the performance also displayed a distorted fisheye look, making the group's heads seem much larger than their bodies.

"How many people out there have had beef with their mothers?" Em asked the crowd out of the blue.

Proof then instructed everyone to yell "F--- you, Debbie!" as the music for "Cleaning Out My Closet" started up. It literally looked like everyone — from 40-year-old men wearing dress shirts to little kids rocking basketball jerseys — were living vicariously through Em as they vehemently flooded the stadium singing the chorus.

Slim Shady then spotlighted the next act to come from his Shady label, Obie Trice, with "Drips" and "S--- Hits the Fan." That led to 50 Cent coming onstage again, joining the duo for "I Just Wanna Love You."

50 and Em then rocked Rock City with "Patiently Waiting." Later, Em rode atop a Hummer that was sitting out in the crowd back to the middle of the audience, rhyming the words to "Lose Yourself" with a giant sign that read "8 Mile Road" hanging down from the rafters, inches from his head. After a ride back to the stage to perform cuts such as "Sing for the Moment" and "Without Me," Slim Shady closed the curtain on the Eminem Show with the grand finale, "Rap Game." The crowd seemed just as amped and ready to party as when they first walked in the arena and when 50 Cent and G-Unit along with D12 came back out to perform their posse cut.

As on his Rock the Mic Tour outings, 50 started his show off with an actor imitating Frank Sinatra and singing "New York, New York." 50 only had about 7 feet from his skyscraper set to the edge of the stage as opposed to the 18 feet he has on the Rock the Mic Tour. This led to him having to make some split-second adjustments in the air when he finally made his entrance. Unfortunately, not calculating the distance correctly led to him taking a spill on the floor.

It didn't matter, though, as he immediately won the crowd over with the potent one-two musical punch of "What Up Gangsta" and "Wanksta." Next, 50 continued taking blows at Ja Rule's career with a snippet of "I Smell Pu---" followed by "Backdown." Even people who came just to see Em and were not familiar with 50 or Ja followed the rap He-Man's order to put their middle fingers in the air. And with tens of thousands of single digits raised, 50 voiced his disdain, "F---Murder Inc."

But even with the resounding approval 50 got on both nights during the "Work It" remix and "Magic Stick," there was no doubt that the weekend belonged to Slim Shady.

"Eminem is number one to me," 50 proclaimed Sunday night. "He gave me my shot."

Missy Elliott was definitely in the giving mood as she opened both shows with songs such as "She's a Bitch" and "Get Ur Freak On." Besides throwing freshly autographed sports jerseys and sneakers into the crowd, Elliott also gave of herself — literally — as she ran out on the floor and even into the bleachers to get love to fans.

"I ran all the way around this muthaf---a," Missy huffed playfully before she brought out Monica out on both nights to perform "So Gone." "Somebody better say something, holla!" she said.

For much more backstage action from the show, check out "Em And 50: Kings Of Detroit."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Eminem
• 50 Cent
• Monica
• Missy Elliott

Monica at the 2003 BET Awards
Photo: MTV News

HOLLYWOOD — Monica will follow up her "So Gone" single not with a bang, but a knock. Actually, two of them.

" 'Knock Knock' is ... like a follow-up to 'So Gone,' just saying that, 'All right, we went through all that stuff, now it's time for you to get lost,' " the singer said at Tuesday's BET Awards (see "BET Awards Night Belongs To 50 Cent, B2K, Jacko And ... Alien Ant Farm?"). " 'This is the end of the road for you.' So, it's kind of like a 'get back' record."

Like After the Storm's first single, "Knock Knock" was produced by Missy Elliott (see "Monica Revises Leaked LP With Help From Missy Elliott ").

"She doesn't have any fear," Monica said of the producer. "When she goes in the studio, her goal is to be creative and to give something new and she could care less what else is current. And she creates new trends by doing that."

Elliott's help on After the Storm, which was originally set for release last fall with a different title and without the help of the "Work It" star, helped the singer score a #1 debut on this week's albums chart (see "All Eyez On Monica As She Nabs Top Chart Slot ").

"It's a blessing," Monica said. "To just be at home, doing your work and trying to give all that you got, you never know what the outcome will be. But they always say you give what you want back. And I just wanted people's love and for them to be receptive to my music now, and I'm thankful."

• Monica
• Missy Elliott

2009 Inauguration Week Events Celebrating Barack Obama

• Diddy
• Mary J. Blige
• Queen Latifah
• Wyclef Jean
• Ne-Yo

Sucker Free on MTV: Fall 2006

• 50 Cent
• Hot Rod
• Lloyd Banks
• Chingy
• Jibbs

Pharrell, Kanye, Snoop, Paris, Ciara, More At The Pharrell & Absolut Ruby Red Pre-VMA Bash

• Pharrell Williams
• Kanye West
• Cee-Lo
• Ciara
• Amerie

2006 VMA Style: Glowing Glam

• Jennifer Lopez
• Beyoncé
• Rihanna
• Pussycat Dolls
• Cassie

TRL Guestbook

• Beyoncé
• Justin Timberlake
• Christina Aguilera
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Nelly Furtado

Faking the Video Episode Guide

• Monica
• Sleepy Brown
• Bubba Sparxxx
• Michelle Branch

P. Diddy, Beyonce, LL Cool J, More At Vibe Awards

• Diddy
• Beyoncé
• LL Cool J
• Mary J. Blige
• Ludacris

• Monica